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Urban Areas and Infrastructure

The majority of the world population lives in urban areas and the impacts of climate change come in various forms - increased incidence of heat waves, water shortages, storm surges, and floods affecting urban infrastructure and peoples’ livelihood.

Dr. Lohani is a distinguished AIT alumnus, who served as Chairman and Associate Professor of the Division of Environmental Engineering at AIT, prior to joining ADB. Dr. Lohani is a current member of the AIT Board of Trustees.

Dr. Lohani was Ranking Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development until 30 June 2015. He was responsible for the ADB’s Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (Office of the Chief Economist), Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, and Office of Information Systems and Technology.

Before the above position, Dr. Lohani was Vice-President (Finance and Administration) of ADB. Dr. Lohani also served as Chair of Investment Committee of the Pension Fund (more than $2 billion); Chair of Asset Liability Management Committee; and Chair of Crisis Management Committee.

Disaster preparedness – what do you need to know? Are you ready? Disasters concern all of us, in terms of people impacted and economic losses accounted. The number, scale and costs of disasters are increasing, mainly as a consequence of growing population, environmental degradation, unplanned settlements, expanding and aging infrastructure, growing assets at risk and more complex societies. The Syrian refugees’ crisis, recent earthquakes like in Nepal and terrorist attacks have shown the need for establishing feasible mechanisms, such as response protocols or facilities.

When disaster strikes, your organization looks to you for a response. At this seminar you will learn about crisis management competencies that you need to have to carry out your responsibilities calmly, professionally and effectively when a crisis hits.

Participants

CEOs of Corporate companies, Telecom Companies, Heads of Missions, Embassies and Consulates, Ministers and staff of all Government Ministries, Heads of Armed Forces, CEOs of Hospitals, Country Representatives and heads of INGOs, NGOs, Donor Organisations, Foundations, Charities

Dr. Peter Rehwinkel is one of the world's most sought after International Disaster and Crisis Management Experts. He is a former MP/Senator/Mayor, has headed several national and international delegations on disaster response and recovery and was involved with the World Bank, UN-agencies like UNOCHA, UNISDR, UNDP and UN-Habitat, USAID, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the European Commission. He recently started International Disaster and Crisis Management. IDCM has its base in Barcelona, the international hub of disaster and crisis management, and Amsterdam. Barcelona hosts the City Resilience Programme by UN-Habitat.

Author of New Book ´Manage Your Next CRISIS! A Must for Cities and Industries´: available here now:http://goo.gl/tVvtk9

In the next 20 years the world’s urban population is expected to rise from 3.3 billion to 5 billion. Urbanisation will increase the pressure on infrastructure and services like road networks and the provision of electricity and water and sanitation. Climate change presents additional challenges: Increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and more frequent and severe extreme events threaten to overwhelm urban infrastructure, emergency services, social services and urban management systems. Adaptation will require action at the local level to adapt to climate change and protect residents, industries, societies and economies from the impacts of climate change. This needs to be supported by city officials and other practitioners who are able to work in innovative ways to respond to the dual challenges of urbanization and climate change.

This course will strengthen the capacity of city officials who have been mandated to engage with adaptation and resilience in urban areas, particularly through enhancing their ability to build and strengthen relationships between stakeholders within their cities, and to develop networks with other cities in their country and internationally. It will be particularly appropriate for local government employees in towns and cities that have recently identified climate change adaptation as a priority, but that are still at early stages in developing their responses.

The course will provide participants with a sound understanding of the key drivers and processes of climate change in urban areas, and the key principles and practices of conducting vulnerability assessments, developing adaptation plans, and implementing adaptation projects. There will be a specific focus on the principles and practice of building urban networks to support these processes. Upon completion of the course, participants will be equipped to undertake many of the activities that are necessary to strengthen the resilience of their cities, and will be sufficiently aware and knowledgeable to generate support for these actions within their municipal or local government agencies and networks.

For more information, please see the course description PDF on the left.